diff --git a/lib/libncurses/lib_kernel.c b/lib/libncurses/lib_kernel.c
index a1d0a85c5a9..534f6f055c9 100644
--- a/lib/libncurses/lib_kernel.c
+++ b/lib/libncurses/lib_kernel.c
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ int cursor = SP->_cursor;
 
 int delay_output(int ms)
 {
-int speed;
+int speed = 0;
 
 	T(("delay_output(%d) called", ms));